A São Paulo court has approved the transfer of former Lieutenant Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo from military detention to a civilian correctional facility, marking another significant development in the high-profile case surrounding the passing of renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Leandro Lo.
The judicial decision came in response to a formal petition from the Public Prosecutor’s Office which argued that Velozo’s continued imprisonment at the Romão Gomes military facility was no longer appropriate. Military detention centers are designated exclusively for active-duty and reserve military police personnel, making Velozo’s presence there legally questionable following his official dismissal from the force.
Governor Tarcísio de Freitas formalized Velozo’s termination through an official decree published in the State Official Gazette on September 19th. The document cited “acts that reveal incompatibility with the military police function” as grounds for dismissal. This administrative action followed a unanimous ruling by the São Paulo Military Court of Justice whose judges characterized Velozo’s conduct as both “dishonorable” and “incompatible with the rank.”
While the Penitentiary Administration Secretariat processes the transfer logistics, Velozo remains confined at the Romão Gomes facility in northern São Paulo. He faces charges of triple-qualified intentional homicide in connection with Lo’s passing, with prosecutors alleging the case involved vile motivation, use of methods that prevented the individual from defending himself, and creation of widespread danger. The tragic incident occurred in August 2022 at Clube Sírio in São Paulo’s southern zone, where Lo suffered a fatal wound to the head.
The legal proceedings have encountered significant obstacles. A jury trial commenced on August 5th at the Barra Funda Courthouse but was abruptly suspended due to procedural disputes involving defense attorneys, prosecutors and Lo’s family representatives. Court records reveal that Velozo’s legal team submitted evidence beyond established deadlines and made threats to abandon the proceedings entirely, prompting Judge Roberto Zanichelli to dissolve the Sentencing Council.
Judge Zanichelli also directed formal complaints to be filed with the OAB Ethics Court regarding what he deemed inappropriate conduct during the session. The trial has been rescheduled for November 12th, 13th and 14th, providing another opportunity for the judicial system to address this closely watched case.
